Governance of the soybean value chain in the South of Tamaulipas (Mexico): Mapping the processes

Abstract

Soybeans in Mexico are a deficit agricultural product: 80% of the needs of the domestic market are imported. Tamaulipas, state of northeastern Mexico, is the largest national producer, in physical volume, values and surface, although the yields per hectare are low in relation to the international average, the diffusion of the technological package is limited and the average size of the productive unit is small compared to those of Brazil and Argentina. This paper analyzes the value chain of soybean in the south of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, by means of mapping the processes and governance structures to contribute to the knowledge of the chain; in particular on how the value is distributed among the whole links of it. The qualitative research data were obtained with group dynamics techniques, observation and interviews to members of the chain, describing the elements in graphic and analytical form. Main findings show that the industrialists, who also intervene in the distribution, lead the chain. Moreover, some organizations assume the leadership of small producers to balance a position of asymmetric dependence in relation to the leaders of the chain.